By MATT VINES, Journal Sports
Asher Murray blasted a 56-yard field goal to send Byrd into halftime with momentum and a three-point edge, and the Yellow Jackets’ running game took over in a 37-21 District 1-5A contest at Benton Friday night.
Murray’s kick tied the school and Shreveport-Bossier record set in 2008 by future Northwestern State kicker John Shaughnessy. It put Byrd ahead to stay, 17-14, going into halftime.
The Yellow Jackets – who meet district leader Airline next Friday night – ran for 368 yards and pulled away in the fourth quarter, which was marred by a scary collision that resulted in Benton’s talented sophomore quarterback Malachi Zeigler being taken to a local hospital.
Benton coach Reynolds Moore said late Friday night all indications are good and Zeigler was in good spirits while being evaluated.
With 2:37 left in the game, Zeigler was injured and left Tiger Stadium in an ambulance after laying on the field for an extended period of time.
Zeigler was sandwiched between two Byrd tacklers as he released a pass, hitting the natural grass surface without a way to brace himself, according to description from Byrd radio broadcaster Charlie Cavell.
Zeigler, Benton’s leading rusher with 104 yards, received a standing ovation as he left the field after being stabilized.
“Just left visiting with him,” texted Moore late Friday. “He’s laughing and joking with me. Hoping scans are clear and they think they will be. Hopefully will be home soon. Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.”
Saturday morning, Zeigler’s father Willie said in a social media post that his son was home “resting and doing fine at this time.”
Zeigler led a hurry-up offense in the first half that scored on two of three possessions as Benton tied Byrd 14-14 late in the first half.
But for the third straight week, Byrd engineered a last-second drive that ended in a Murray field goal, the longest in local history.
The Yellow Jackets (7-1, 5-1 District 1-5A) pulled away in the fourth quarter as Peter Santiago scored his second touchdown of the night on a 33-yard run to lift Byrd ahead 30-21 on Benton (1-7, 1-5).
Byrd added a Quinton Hilliard 1-yard touchdown run to build a 37-21 advantage. Hilliard started the scoring with a 41-yard touchdown from Harrison Ayres in the first quarter.
Fullback Collin Deere rushed for 206 yards on 36 carries as Byrd totaled 368 rushing yards without its two leading rushers Christian Mazie and Desmond Simmons.
“Our defense got more comfortable in the second half and settled down,” said Byrd coach Stacy Ballew. “Benton came out in a hurry-up offense, and we weren’t able to get lined up or get the play in.
“But hats off to our offensive line and our fullback – played great games tonight.”
AIRLINE 76, NATCHITOCHES CENTRAL 52: Airline head coach Justin Scogin couldn’t recall exactly how many touchdowns quarterback Ben Taylor threw (6, along with running for a pair) or how many scores Kenny Darby caught.
That’s what happens when your team scores a Scogin-tenure record of 76 points. His previous best at Airline came in a 75-59 win against Benton in 2022.
Airline (8-0, 6-0 District 1-5A) remained the lone unbeaten locally overall, and in the district. NCHS (1-7, 0-6) dropped its seventh straight contest.
Taylor had a hand in Airline’s first three touchdowns via a 2-yard run and touchdown passes to Darby of 22 and 53 yards as the Vikings opened a 21-7 lead.
“When you have guys like that, at the end of the day, those guys make plays,” Scogin said. “Natchitoches Central did a good job of changing coveragesand switching pressures, but our guys made plays.
“As the game went along, we were able to get Natchitoches Central into bad situations and take advantage.”
That number climbed to 28-7 early in the second quarter, but Natchitoches Central and playmaking quarterback Owen Smith basically matched the high-powered Vikings from that point on.
Airline – ranked 10th in the LSWA’s Class 5A Top 10 poll — scored a whopping 49 points to lead 49-21 at the half.
Scogin tipped his cap to Smith and the Chiefs offense as well.
“Owen is really good -– reminds me of Evangel’s Pop Houston in the way they run around and extend plays,” Scogin said. “I think we lost our focus a little bit in the second half, and that’ll be something we need to clean up.”
HOMER 50, MAGNOLIA SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE 18: Homer raced to an early lead and didn’t look back Friday in a District 1-2A win. The Pelicans (3-3, 2-2) took a 28-0 halftime lead and coasted in the second half.
For Magnolia (0-7, 0-5), scoring 18 points was a season-high and did match its combined season total of 18 points coming into the game.
Contact Matt at sports@journalservicesllc.com